Chapter 4

The call was from Cedric's friend, Noah Chapman.

In the three years Olivia had been with Cedric, she'd only met his friends a handful of times. She couldn't say she knew them well. For some reason, during those few meetings, she'd always faintly sensed a kind of hostility from them. So later on, whenever Cedric had gatherings with his friends, she stopped wanting to tag along.

Back when they first got to know each other, Olivia had saved all their numbers. But in the past three years, she had almost never been in touch with any of them. Now that Noah was suddenly calling her, she couldn't help feeling a vague sense of unease.

For the past three years, whether in front of Cedric or in front of his friend group, she'd always maintained the same gentle, easygoing image. So even if she was resistant, she couldn't just ignore the call. She couldn't afford to tip them off, especially at a time like this.

Olivia took a deep breath, forced down the anxiety in her chest, and answered the call.

"Olivia, The Cove, private room 606. We're pretty much all here, so come join us." Noah's voice came through the phone the moment the call connected. Along with it came a lively, noisy background.

"Is something going on?" Olivia tightened her grip on the phone and asked in her usual even tone.

"It's nothing serious. It's just that you and Ced are about to get engaged, and we still don't know you very well. We're all really curious to see what the woman who actually won him over is like.

"Don't worry, we don't mean any harm. Since Ced has already decided you're the one, you'll have to get used to our circle sooner or later, don't you think?"

Olivia frowned slightly but still agreed to go.

She originally thought it would be just another ordinary get-together like before. She didn't really like those kinds of occasions, but she had already mentally prepared herself.

However, once she actually arrived at the private room, she realized there were way more people there than usual, including several unfamiliar faces she'd never seen before.

She stood in the doorway and scanned the room, not spotting Cedric anywhere. She had just started to back out when Noah grabbed her arm.

"Let me make the introductions. This is Ced's girlfriend and wife-to-be, Olivia Reed."

As soon as he said that, almost everyone in the room turned to look at her.

Olivia felt uncomfortable under all the attention. She turned to Noah and asked, "Where's Cedric? Why isn't he here yet? I'll give him a call."

She had only taken a step back, ready to leave the room to call Cedric, when Noah yanked her back inside. He said, "Ced went to pick someone up. He'll be here in a bit. He's probably driving right now, so don't call him. Come in and hang out for a while."

As he said this, he led Olivia further inside. Soon enough, several people came over and surrounded her. Their words were flattering enough, but for some reason, she saw nothing but sleaze and disrespect from the way their eyes ran over her.

Cedric was a rising power in Symport and had considerable influence. Under normal circumstances, no one would dare openly set their sights on his girlfriend like this… unless he'd never really treated her as his true other half.

A chill spread in her chest, and the phone call she'd heard that morning suddenly exploded in her mind all over again.

One after another, the people in the room came over under the pretense of toasting Olivia. Her hands, hanging at her sides, slowly balled tighter and tighter into fists.

She'd originally planned to just put up with it and see how Cedric handled things once he arrived, but then a slick guy with too much cologne sitting beside her suddenly leaned in and slapped his hand right onto her thigh.

His palm was sweaty, clammy, and grossly warm. It made her stomach turn. She couldn't hold back anymore and shoved him away.

Even Noah felt he'd crossed a line. He said coldly, "Where the hell are you putting your dirty hands, Paul? She's Ced's girlfriend! Go sober up in a corner if you're that drunk. Don't act crazy here."

But the guy, Paul Dixon, was clearly wasted. He just sneered and said, "What, you can stomach her pure act? Don't we all know what she's really like? She agreed to shoot those racy photos at the drop of a hat. I'm still waiting for Ced to show us the HD version. Now, she can't even handle a hand over her stockings? What a faker!"

Cedric happened to push open the door and walk into the room just as Paul was spewing that vitriol. He heard every word, loud and clear.

He saw Olivia standing off to the side, her face drained of color. He crossed the room in a few long strides and kicked Paul, who was still cursing, to the floor.

Noah immediately stepped in and snapped, "Can't you guys see he's drunk? Get him out of here."

Once a few people dragged Paul out, Noah turned back to Olivia, saying dismissively, "Sorry about that. He's just an idiot who doesn't know when to shut up. Don't take it to heart."

Olivia ignored him. She fixed her gaze on Cedric and asked seriously, "What did he mean when he talked about those photos?"

Deep down, she already knew what Paul meant, but she still wanted to hear Cedric's answer. She wanted to see what kind of ridiculous excuse the man she had loved for so many years would come up with to placate her, to continue fooling her.

"He meant a celebrity-style pictorial. These guys mentioned before that you had a great figure and asked me to bring you in for a shoot; I just agreed on a whim. I didn't think they'd actually have the nerve to joke about it like that. It's my fault."

As Cedric spoke, he grabbed Olivia's hand and pulled her out of the private room.

Paul was not far from the room. He was still talking trash to the guys who had dragged him out. Cedric strode over, still holding onto Olivia, and snatched up an empty wine bottle. He shoved it into her hand, then wrapped his fingers around hers and smashed it straight down on Paul's head.

The blow stunned Paul. He clutched his head and dropped into a crouch, groaning in pain. The others all jumped back in shock, hastily taking several steps away. No one dared say a word.

"Take a good look, Paul. She's my woman. If you ever dare to joke about her like that again, it won't just be a little cut on your head. Got it?" Cedric snarled.

He had clawed his way up from nothing. Along the way, he'd survived rock bottom and all kinds of humiliation most people couldn't even imagine. All of that had forged the man he was now—temperamental and ruthless. Many people feared him.

Paul was no exception. Even though he was seething inside and his head was pounding like his skull would literally split open, all he could do was grit his teeth through the pain. He got to his feet and mumbled an apology to Olivia.

Only after he finished apologizing did Cedric turn to look at Olivia seriously. "If someone pushes you around, you push them back. Got it? Whatever you do, I'll deal with the fallout. So don't be afraid.

"And I'm sorry. This one's on me. I forgot just how trashy this crowd can be. I shouldn't have had Noah get you. If you don't like these people, then don't bother with them. They're not worth your time."

His words were serious and sincere.

Olivia suddenly felt dazed as she watched him bend slightly toward her, meeting her eyes with that intense gaze. For a moment, she found that she couldn't quite read him anymore.